Fryman won 141 games from 1966-83 with the Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs. He pitched primarily in relief late in his career, saving 17 games for Montreal in 1980.

Fryman had four career one-hitters – including a nearly perfect game when he was a Pittsburgh rookie. He gave up a leadoff hit to the New York Mets, the runner was caught stealing and Fryman didn’t allow anyone else on base.

In 1972, Fryman joined the Tigers in the middle of the season and went 10-3 with a 2.06 ERA for them, helping Detroit win the American League East.

He was elected to the Expos Hall of Fame in 1995.

I was too young to see Fryman work his half-season magic. Do any of you remember seeing him pitch for the Tigers?

My friend Chuck passed along this story which appeared last week in The Wall Street Journal. The piece focuses on Bill “Pappy” Holcomb, a 71-year-old retired autoworker, who’s ending his 22-season Tigers Fantasy Camp career.The main thread of the story is the aging of Fantasy Camp attendees:

The Tigers this year had 190 campers, with an average age of 54. In 1985, the average age was 44. Teams that started their camps more recently tend to have a lower average age, around 50, but they also find themselves catering to older, more-infirm players.

I was stunned to see Sizemore earn the most votes and expected to see Konerko or Thome at the top.

Thanks to the nearly 1,000 voters in this poll. Watch for another poll soon.

I’m still amazed that the Tigers cut ties with Jeremy Bonderman. As I said on the podcast last week, the Tigers could certainly use someone of Bondo’s caliber for spot starting a la Eddie Bonine or Chad Durbin, et al. Instead it looks like he’s headed to Cleveland and the Plain Dealer‘sTerry Pluto explains why:

They did offer him a minor-league contract, but he rejected it. The market for Bonderman is slim because of that 6.50 ERA (and 13 HR in 73 innings) after the All-Star break — when his average fastball dropped from 92 mph to 88. The Indians believe fatigue was the reason.

(snip)

The Indians are looking at Bonderman because you can never have enough starting pitching.

Apparently the Tigers think you can.

This story isn’t Tigers related but it’s fascinating nonetheless. If you’ve followed the Bernie Madoff story even peripherally over the past few years, you know the devastation his Ponzi scheme has inflicted on countless people.This article in The New York Times provides a window into Madoff’s ties to the Mets’ owners — and what role Madoff played in managing the deferred income included in player contracts.

3 Comments

Woodie was one of the many veterans that Billy Martin brought in. I only saw him pitch on TV but he was lights out when they got him in 1972. He was Doyle Alexander when he came in a trade before there was Doyle Alexander and his 9-0.

Woodie was one of my favorite Tigers when I was a kid. Dad liked him, too. I always remember him having good control and a great mound presence. I also clearly remember him batting … I need to go look up his career batting average.

Fryman had a brilliant half season with the Tigers in ’72. Jim Campbell must have had a buddy over in Philadelphia at that time. The year before Detroit obtained Tony Taylor from the Phils who was a Placido Polanco type of player for both teams. Fryman was likely the key player for Detroit who won the division by a 1/2 game as I recall. Like Alexander 15 years later he was “lights out” in terms of location and control. Like Alexander he wasn’t able to harness his abilities the following year(s) to attain the level of effectiveness he had in his first half season with Detroit.